Berk ends stellar Highland Park career
BY DINO MACRO dmacro@pioneerlocal.com May 31, 2011 6:46PM
Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM
BOYS TRACK — Cracking the top three was David Berk’s ultimate goal. Even though the Highland Park High School senior settled for eighth place in pole vault, he still goes down as the best vaulter in school history.
Berk, who established a school-record 15-0 in sectional, topped out at 14-6 during the 2011 IHSA Class 3A state meet in Charleston.
“Any season you finish on the big blue oval at Eastern (Illinois University) is a great one,” noted Giants head coach Kevin Caines.
Berk just couldn’t find a groove either Friday or Saturday.
“I was a little slow on the runway all weekend,” Berk said. “I was stuck on a smaller pole. I tried to go onto a bigger pole to clear 15-0, but I just couldn’t get onto the pole very well.”
As the season fades into memory, Berk wanted to thank vault coach Scott Etchell.
“He was always there helping me to figure things out,” Berk noted. “He always made the right decisions.”
Caines added that Berk’s development was a product of talent and hard work.
“He’s a real student of the event,” Caines said. “Both mentally and physically, he knows this event inside and out.”
Berk is headed to Vanderbilt University in the fall. Since the Commodores do not have a track team, his competitive vaulting career is over.
“David will be very successful in whatever he does,” Caines said.
State stuff: The Giants sent two team members to State. Senior Ari Rothschild finished 17th in the 3200-meter run (9:33.92).
“He’s one of the top distance guys to ever come out of Highland Park,” Caines said.
Rothschild will continue his running career at Elon University (N.C.).
Comments Click here to view or make a comment